Date: Fri Sep 28, 2001 2:36 pm

Subject: Unreality and Anxiety- Dr. Claire Weekes

Hi Group,

I copied some lines out of Dr. Clair Weekes book- " Hope and help for your nerves."

A good on line friend sent me this book to help me cope with benzo withdrawal. It's not really about benzo withdrawal, but about "nervous illness" which for us can really be the case. We really can become nervous wrecks with that feeling of unreality and anxiety and panic quite severe at times. I've used some of the coping skills in this book and it has helped. I just wanted to pass this along.

For me this acceptance thing takes practice, but it really can reduce some of the desperation and negativity that accompanies benzo withdrawal. I think Yvonne and Noel mentioned similar ideas earlier today.

Hope this helps,

Tom

Dr. Claire Weekes writes: Very strange feelings may momentarily, from time to time, sweep over the nervously ill, and recovery lies in passing right through these moments, again and again if necessary, until they no longer matter. Strange feelings in nervous illness have no real significance, although they can be very disturbing. Recovery does not lie in trying to switch them off, tranquilize them away, or avoid them. Recovery lies in going right through them with utter acceptance in as relaxed a way as possible. When I describe this procedure to some people, they immediately answer, again, "Now that’s my problem, Doctor. I can't relax. I couldn't possibly do what you ask." My answer is always the same: "If you can not relax your body at this stage (and I do understand this), you can at least relax your attitude to your illness." So, If a feeling of unreality is part of your illness, be prepared to work with it, live with it, without being too impressed by it. It is not in the least important, as even usual in the circumstances. So, feel as unreal as your present state demands. Acceptance calms, tension is relaxed, and interest in the outside world gradually returns. At least you become more outward, than inward, bound.